Grahm's Guide
to Filming Locations
The Evictors (1979) Filming Locations
The Movie
The late Charles B. Pierce launched his film career with The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972), and he continued making motion pictures ranging between sweeping historical epics and tales of modern-day frights, such as The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976).
The Evictors is firmly in the latter camp, recounting the story of a couple who move into an older farmhouse in “Northern Louisiana” during World War II, only to discover that several mysterious deaths had occurred on the property. As they settle into their new life, mysterious happenings indicate that they may be next on the chopping block.
The Evictors © 1979 American International Pictures, Inc.
Many thanks to my friend Brad for introducing me to The Evictors and visiting the locations with me.
The Locations
The Evictors was filmed primarily in and around Jonesville, Texas.
If you have any tips on locations that I missed, please contact me on the Grahm's Guide Facebook page or via e-mail.
SPOILER ALERT: The descriptions below include plot points of the film. If you haven't seen the movie, you can buy The Evictors on Blu-ray from Shout! Factory.
The Farmhouse
When Ben Watkins (Michael Parks) and his wife Ruth (Jessica Harper) move to a new town for Ben’s work, they are thrilled to purchase a farmhouse on forty acres, but their joy soon turns to unease.
The farmhouse that seemed rundown in the film is actually a beautiful home at 3770 FM 134, Waskom, TX 75692. Construction of the home was begun in 1841, and today it bears a Texas Historical Commission (THC) historical marker as the Dr. Samuel Floyd Vaughan Home. Vaughan bought the home in 1870, and it still remains in the family.
Reference: I first located this house thanks to a photo posted on Flickr.
Please respect the property and privacy of the residents of this private home.
The Downtown
Ben Ruth and Ben shop on a downtown street, which is also near the office of their real estate Jake Rudd (Vic Morrow).
The downtown street scenes are centered near 107 Waskom Ave, Waskom, TX 75692, where the film’s Rudd Properties office was located.
Reference: I tracked this site down based on knowing that some filming was in Waskom.
The Church
To meet the neighbors in their new town, Ben and Ruth attend the local church, where they meet welcoming widow Olie Gibson (Sue Ann Langdon).
Exclusive: The quaint church seen on-screen is the real St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 10389 FM 134, Karnack, TX 75661.
Reference: I had searched for this location for a few years, until a random Internet search led me to this spot.
The church from The Evictors, as seen in February 2019
The General Store
While Ben discusses self-defense with the local sheriff, Ruth steps into the general store, where a friendly grocer fulfills her shopping list.
The store is the historic T. C. Lindsey & Co. General Store, 2293 FM 134, Jonesville, TX 75659, and the area of the store that was once a post office still appears much as it did on-screen.
The store began in 1847 as Jones Trading Post, about a mile or so north of the present location, but the business moved to the current site after the Civil War.
Later, the aforementioned Dr. Samuel Floyd Vaughan bought into the business, and his descendants still own the store. The building on the site today was built in 1922, and a visit is like an exciting step back in time.
Reference: I first learned of the well-known store’s use in The Evictors from a local site for the Waskom area.
The Cemetery
After a sudden death in town, mourners attend a burial service at a local cemetery.
The cemetery seen on-screen is the Scottsville Cemetery, 9455 FM 1998, Marshall, TX 75672.
You can learn more about this picturesque cemetery on the “Scottsville” page of the invaluable Texas Escapes Online Magazine.
Meeting Pamula Pierce Barcelou in Texarkana, Texas
Extras
In July 2019, I had the pleasure of meeting Pamula Pierce Barcelou, director Charles B. Pierce’s daughter, at a screening of the new 4K restoration of The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972). She has done fantastic work in reclaiming her father’s first film. For home viewers, the movie had generally only been available in low-quality bootleg versions, and seeing it now is like seeing a whole new movie.
You can visit The Legend of Boggy Creek Online Store to purchase the official Blu-ray/DVD combo of the newly restored film, along with T-shirts, posters and other merchandise.